Earlier in his career, Mario served as law clerk to the Hon. Thomas C. Platt, Federal District Judge, Eastern District of New York.

New York University School of Law, J.D., 1995

Harvard University, B.A., 1991, magna cum laude

Professional Profile

Mario Mancuso, P.C. leads the Firm’s International Trade and National Security practice. A former senior member of the President’s national security team, Mario works closely with companies, private equity sponsors, and financial institutions to identify and mitigate the international risks of operating and investing across international borders.

Since his return to private practice, Mario has been consistently recognized by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business and Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a leading international practitioner. Named an “International Trade MVP” by Law 360, he is a leading advisor on international risk matters involving the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS), economic sanctions (OFAC), export controls (ITAR, EAR), and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Clients appreciate his holistic and "very strategic" approach, and consistently applaud his work as "a highly skilled technician of the law and commercially savvy advisor."

During his tenure as Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, Mario was the lead U.S. official with immediate policy responsibility for matters involving U.S. industry and national security. In particular, he served as a senior CFIUS decision-maker, helped draft and implement regulations for the Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007 (FINSA) and reviewed hundreds of CFIUS transactions as a regulator. As Under Secretary, he also participated in National Security Council decisions regarding economic sanctions (OFAC) programs; led the bilateral strategic technology dialogues for the United States, including the U.S.-China High Technology and Strategic Trade Working Group, the U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation Group, and the U.S.-Israel High Technology Forum; and led and managed an agency of approximately 400 career civil servants in offices throughout the United States and in China, India, Hong Kong, the UAE and Russia. Mario’s extensive senior government experience includes:

U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce, Industry and Security (confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate)

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Special Operations and Combating Terrorism

Special Counsel, Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense

Board Member, Global Markets Board, U.S. National Intelligence Council

Board Member, CFIUS Advisory Board, U.S. National Intelligence Council

U.S. Chair, U.S.-China High Technology and Strategic Trade Working Group

U.S. Chair, U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation Group

U.S. Chair, U.S.-Israel High Technology Forum

With his senior government, enforcement and international experience, he is particularly well-positioned to help clients through crises that involve national security-related regulatory enforcement actions or government investigations by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and/or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Mario has authored many articles and regularly contributes to leading U.S. and international media outlets on the subjects of U.S. national security, international affairs and global business. He is the author of the recently released, A Dealmaker’s Guide to CFIUS, which aims to help buyers, sellers, and other interested parties think through CFIUS—strategically and tactically—within the M&A process.

Prior to his presidential service, he was in private law practice and served as a forward deployed military officer during combat operations.